UNC police chief warns students to stay vigilant after area shooting

University of Northern Colorado Police Chief Wendy Rich-Goldschmidt tells students to look around when they come to campus.

Do you see the barbed wire, the armed guards? No? Remember that, she tells them.

“I think it’s important for us to remember that UNC is a community within a community,” Rich-Goldschmidt said.

Last weekend offered a reminder.

As a group of UNC and Colorado State University students walked home from a party east of campus, they crossed the path of three men in a red car. The groups exchanged words. One of the men pulled a shotgun and fired at the college students. CSU student Will Kellen caught two pellets in the head, but didn’t suffer major injuries.

Sgt. Joe Tymkowych of the Greeley Police Department said one witness said a man in the car may have claimed a gang affiliation before leaving. Police haven’t arrested anyone in connection with the shooting, but Tymkowych said investigators have strong leads.

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Violent crime against college students at UNC is rare. According to statistics compiled by the FBI, there were four reported violent crimes at UNC in 2002 compared to 30 each at CSU and the University of Colorado.

Still, UNC students need to understand violent crime can happen anywhere, Rich-Goldschmidt said. The university sent an e-mail to students on Thursday to inform them about the shooting and offer safety tips.

“Certainly this is a solid reminder that we need to be cognizant of our crime prevention on campus as well,” she said.

After the idea came up during the department’s summer retreat, UNC designated an officer to keep in contact with the Greeley Police Department’s Gang Intervention Unit. The connection allows the departments to share information, such as the location of known gang houses. There are none known near campus.

But gang members own cars, said Sgt. Keith Olson of the Greeley Gang Unit. Just because they typically don’t live near the university doesn’t mean they can’t get there. Students shouldn’t confront them, he said.

Kellen, the CSU student who was shot, said on Monday that he argued with the men in the car. He didn’t think it would lead to violence.

“If the situation doesn’t feel right, then it’s best to be on the phone calling us rather than waiting for something to happen,” Olson said.

If you have information about last weekend’s shooting, call the Greeley Police Department at 350-9600.